How To: Throw The Ultimate Barbecue

Throw The Ultimate Summer Season Kickoff

It's hard to avoid the smoky scent of chicken and burgers on the grill in your neighborhood, and the sound of laughter coming from their backyard. That's all the convincing you'll need in order to get cracking on your own barbecue, so learn how to plan the ultimate barbecue that'll have your friends salivating for the summer months to come.

get a grill

If you don't have your own barbecue yet, then this is the first place to start. While an electric barbecue grill is cleaner, easier, and more environmentally friendly, it can't produce the unmistakable flavor that charcoal or gas grills provide.

This is a good investment, so you want to get a grill that you know will last you for years to come. I recommend the Broil King.

Tip: If you are using a gas grill, make sure that you have enough gas before the event; when the guests are ready to eat and the meat is ready to be grilled, a barbecue grill without gas is not taken lightly.

your bbq checklist

Accessories

Paper plates and plastic cups — easily disposable

Plastic cutlery

Napkins

BBQ utensils

Serving utensils

Salad bowls

Pitchers

Ice bucket

Tablecloth(s)

now for the grub

The most important part of the barbecue is the food, of course. Get an idea of how many people are coming and make sure you have enough food and drinks for everyone — you don't want people fighting for the last dog. If you want to cut costs, then you can make it a potluck barbecue, where the guests bring the food.

If you do organize a potluck, make sure to get an idea of what everyone should bring, or take initiative and tell the guests whether they're bringing salad, side dishes, buns, dessert, or brewskies, for example. Yes, too much beer is never a problem, but it's hard to have a barbecue when the only items people bring are Coors, Bud and Heineken.

If you do decide to have a potluck, it's easier for you to handle the meat and condiments, in order to ensure they're taken care of.

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